“Is something wrong?” I ask.
“Mhmm.”
“I’m coming. Please, be safe,” I say, ending the call. I immediately go to my texts and send a message to Dad, even though he is three seats over.
Me
Something is wrong in the guest locker room with the guys. I’m going to check it out. Tell Mom and Rogers.
I drop my phone in my bag before standing and walking away. I move quietly and quickly down the hall until I get to the locker room. Determined to save them, I coolly walk in.
“Hey,” Jovian says with wide eyes as he stands at the front of the benches next to the others. They all look concerned as their eyes flick back to the showers before looking at me, and then the door. They’re telling me to leave.
“Hey. Figured I’d surprise you,” I say sweetly as I walk over and hug him. I know Dad will follow me, but I stay focused on my men.
“We are good. Just hanging out,” he says as the others hug me tightly.
“Why don’t we just skip out of here?” I ask. “If y’all aren’t going to be on the ice, we have no reason to be here.”
“You go ahead to the hotel, and we will be right behind you,” Elijah says, hugging me last. He holds onto me and whispers in my ear. “Please leave. Please. He’s here.”
I pull back and smile, because like fuck if I am leaving them to take the brunt of the situation. Elijah sighs, understanding I’m not going anywhere.
“I’ll hang out and wait for y’all. No one is out on the ice, so I don’t want to run into them,” I say, knowing I’m giving it away now. All six men rapidly shake their heads at me. I watch Jovian’s eyes shift behind me as I see a shadow shift, telling me someone iscoming up behind me. I duck and swing my leg around, catching someone’s feet. When Ethan hits the ground, I rip the hockey stick out of his hand and scurry up from the ground as Conrad comes around the corner with a pistol in his hand.
“Get up. You’re pathetic,” Conrad barks. I hold onto the stick, ready to swing it. It’s no match against a gun, though.
“Let them walk out of here, and we can talk,” I say simply. “I’m the one you have an issue with.”
“They will run their mouths,” Conrad says.
“No, they won’t. Will you?” I ask the guys.
“We aren’t leaving you,” Jovian says.
“Then you’ll die together,” Conrad says. “Why not have a little fun first, hmm? For old time’s sake?”
I have a few options here. I could stand my ground and be a bitch… or I can play his game. “I’ll do whatever you want. Please don’t kill them, Conrad. Please.”
“Fine. Get on your knees,” he says.
“No,” Elijah growls. I glance at him, and he sighs, understanding that I am up to something.
“Now. On your knees,” he shouts.
I take a few steps forward before bringing myself down to my knees and sitting back on my heels. Ethan towers over me, but it’s not the evil that I see in his eyes. It’s pity. Conrad grabs me by the hair and pulls my head back. The door opens, and another man walks in. Right away, I know this situation just got a lot worse. The man is older and looks a lot like Conrad. It’s Vinny.
“Oh, look. We didn’t have to hunt her down after all. Good job getting her here, son,” Vinny says, as Conrad stares down at me. Was he trying to get me to run?
“We were just about to have a little fun,” Conrad says.
“Glad I didn’t miss it. Maybe try to keep the product whole this time?” Vinny chuckles. “I suppose we don’t need the boys anymore.”
“Please don’t hurt them,” I say in a small voice.
“What are you willing to do to keep them alive?” Vinny asks me.
“Anything,” I say.
